Community Organizing Manager

Job Title: Community Organizing Manager

SOMOS Mayfair’s Community Organizing Department builds power in East San Jose to effectively challenge the system and create sustainable systemic change in schools, neighborhoods and communities . We do this through a base building and grassroots community organizing approach that educates, agitates, organizes, mobilizes, and centers multigenerational Raza families to be the leaders of change. We support and build policies by centering the needs of the most impacted and shifting power and resources back to the people living in neighborhoods like Mayfair.

The Community Organizing Manager works with the Community Organizing Director in the development and implementation of a community-driven and neighborhood wide agenda. In tandem, they are the leader of impacting change through SOMOS Mayfair and our partners. The Community Organizing Manager works with the Community Organizing Director in policy development with an early education, immigration, youth, and racial/economic justice perspective.

The Community Organizing Manager should be firmly grounded in the social justice movement with an intersectional approach, experience in leadership development and popular education, committed to early childhood education, housing, and community organizing experience.

The ideal candidate must be excited at the prospect of growing with our organization and welcome the opportunity to be a leader, a thought partner and team member to our exceptional staff. This position requires an individual who likes leading and working in a team, able to manage multiple responsibilities and can stay on top of information and tasks in a fast-paced organization.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications and Qualities

• Deep passion and commitment to advancing racial, economic and social justice in immigrant, working class, and multi-generational Raza communities
• The Community Organizing Manager should see themselves as a visible, vocal, leader who is fiercely dedicated to addressing systemic injustices
• A commitment to take action to sustain a culture of grassroots organizing led by Raza families impacted by injustice
• Enthusiasm for SOMOS’ mission, vision, values and policy platform
• Experience with working across teams, organizations and communities to effectively move campaigns
• 1 year experience with supervising projects and employees to effectively move campaigns and projects
• B.A. degree in a related field (such as Social Work, Sociology, Housing, Immigration studies, Ethnic Studies, Public Health, Public Interest Law, Youth Development, or Mental Health, etc.) or 3 years of significant, related community organizing

Key Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep understanding of root causes impacting marginalized and poor communities
• Experience running campaigns using popular education, storytelling and mobilizing coalitions
• The candidate must be able to motivate community members and staff to move them towards action
• Display time management, project management, and delegation skills
• Excellent individual and group rapport-building and communication skills (written and verbal) in a range of relationships and environments, including with co-workers, colleagues in the field, youth, program participants, parents, health and human services professionals, teachers, school leaders, and other key stakeholders
• Computer skills (particularly Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, programs including Word/Docs, Excel/Sheets and Outlook/Gmail), proficiency in utilizing the internet, and familiarity with Survey Monkey or other online evaluation tools
• Available to work flexible hours, including afternoons and occasional evenings and weekends
• Bilingual in Spanish and English. preferred
• Valid California driver’s license and proof of auto insurance required

Duties and Responsibilities (approximate % of time)

Organizing Campaign Strategy & Execution (20%)

• Ensures SOMOS Mayfair organizing teams develop action campaigns plans, power mapping strategies, campaign activities and actions, and base building
• Supports organizing teams in the development and implementation of outreach strategies to build a robust and active base of leaders and supporters
• Supports organizers in developing effective messages and use of of social media to uplift community voice and enhance campaigns
• Ensures organizing teams are working as part of a larger programmatic strategy
• Supports with the development and or update of the SOMOS’ community-led neighborhood-wide policy agenda
• As needed, assists in the policy research and advocacy opportunities in alignment with the SOMOS Mayfair’s vision, mission, and core values;
• Assist in researching and learning about promising solutions, organizing trends, policies and political theory

Civic Engagement Management (10%)

• Executes Civic Engagement campaign including: developing effective campaign plans, social media strategies, coordination of campaign activities and actions, and recruiting coalition allies.
• Supports in the coordination of community-based governance structures, systems and processes that support community decision-making, leadership and voice in local ballot initiates and electoral processes

Coalition Engagement & Leadership (20%)

• Co-represents SOMOS and provides leadership at the Sí Se Puede Collective’s Policy and Advocacy Committee
• As needed, serves as liaison with local and regional collaborations, community allies, policymakers, and organizational stakeholders
• Alongside Program Director, identifies and builds coalitions with key community partners
• Represents SOMOS at community gatherings; at workshops, training, and presentations; to community, political, and government leaders; to other community-based organizations; and in the media.
• Participate in countywide efforts to support promotores and community organizers working in neighborhoods like Mayfair;
• Proactively promote mission, vision, strategic goals, and community impact amongst partners, allies and potential allies

Relationship with Director of Programs (10%)

• Consistently report status of work plans and emerging issues to Director
• Provide information and recommendations to the Director for consideration by the Somos Mayfair Management Team
• Keep abreast of best practices in promotor models, popular education, community organizing and literacy trends to support ongoing programming
• Create an annual plan to develop or strengthen essential skills critical to the Program Manager’s success

Program Management and Evaluation (20%)

• Participates in the organizational development process at SOMOS as needed
• Tracks and reports organizing and policy program goals, outcomes, and performance metrics
• Supports in the evaluation community organizing program, practices, and initiatives to ensure quality and effectiveness; makes recommendations for improvement
• Conduct pre and post program survey across all participants and programs to measure SOMOS impact

Supervision & Professional Development (15%)

• Fosters a team-oriented environment focused on community organizing and power building
• Develop and supervise an unified and effective organizing team of 3.5 SOMOS program employees and program assistants (if applicable)
• Regularly monitors and evaluate team performance and provide opportunities for learning and growth
• Execute a Learning & Professional Development Plan to develop or strengthen essential skills and seek opportunities for greater and on-going learning and professional development of staff members
• Uses a strengths-based or coaching approach to support and hold teams accountable
• Supports staff in program planning and effective and sustainable execution
• Recruit and retain a diverse and talented staff that has wide skills represented, ethnicity and gender diversity to be consistent with SOMOS’ target population
• Ensure that job descriptions are current, regular performance evaluations are completed in a timely manner, proper recognition and disciplinary actions are taken, and when necessary, termination procedures are properly followed

Administrative (5%)

• Develop work plans, budgets, program monitoring, data tracking and reporting systems in support of our program budget;
• Create and execute an annual work plan, that includes organizational strategies and milestone deadlines
• Participate in agency wide decision-making arenas and in regular internal political education as needed
• Contribute to the development of organizational world-view and execution of the current Strategic Plan
• Participate in SOMOS Mayfair staff meetings and training and support major organizational campaigns and projects

Applications will Close by February 1st 2025, and the interview process may start shortly after. The Hiring Lead will review applications on a rolling basis and the expected start date for the position will be March 2025.

Please apply by submitting a cover letter and resume, through our online SOMOS Mayfair Job Application, or in person at our HQ location: 1695 Alum Rock Ave, Suite 10 San José, CA.

SOMOS Mayfair is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, actual or perceived gender identity and gender expression, disability, genetic information, familial status or veteran status.